Merthyr Services Enhancement

[whole diary]

[John R]

The service enhancement to half hourly is due to start in May, yet the OLJP shows no sign of it (yet for example the Severn Beach line service improvement is in). Has this been canned with the loss of units to FGW^▸ (First Great Western)? If so, there's going to be some seriously bad PR^▸ (Public Relations) for the WAG^» (Welsh Assembly Government - about) when it becomes clear. 

[welshman]

I think this can't happen yet.  There are some loops required between Abercynon South and Merthyr and an associated revision of Abercynon North & South stations to turn them into a single park & ride facility.

More info here.  The small photo shows the view looking north from Abercynon South which is on the Merthyr line.  The train is approaching from Merthyr Tydfil.

In the background is Abercynon North (200 yards from South) which is on the Aberdare branch receding in the distance.

At the moment there are two trains/hour from Cardiff Central to Aberdare but only one from Cardiff to Merthyr.  As I understand it, a new two platform facility is required to create the necessary capacity for  two trains/hour on each branch.

Something like that, anyway.

[John R]

I thought that the final infrastructure work was due to be carried out during a possession over the Easter weekend.

[welshman]

Further to my previous post, Network Rail have only just let the signalling contract to Westinghouse.  There is a February speed reduction notice which I think relates to the proposed passing loop between Merthyr Vale and Troedyrhiw.  No work has been started at Abercynon yet.

For those who neither know nor care, the line is double tracked from Cardiff through Pontypridd and north as far as Abercynon where it forks into two single tracks - one for Aberdare and one for Merthyr.

There is a two platform station at Mountain Ash on the Aberdare branch which constitutes the passing loop for that section.  But so far, no passing loop on the Merthyr section.

If the Ebbw Vale experience is anything to go by, late 2009 might be a start time for two trains to Merthyr.

[John R]

http://www.roscalen.com/signals/Abercynon/index.htm

Some good views of Abercynon here. Soon to be history.

[welshman]

I thought that the final infrastructure work was due to be carried out during a possession over the Easter weekend.

Network Rail say so, but the ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) website makes no mention of it.  The next closure is on 30th March for one day.  I don't think that's enough time to remodel the track, let alone build a station!

[Lee]

It is interesting to note that Abercynon North has only been open for just under 20 years. Obviously on the list of closures that we wouldnt oppose, given the circumstances.

[John R]

I agree. My parents' families all lived in the Cynon valley and when I was a lad (aye!) Dad used to tell me about the time when trains ran up to Aberdare. Little did I imagine in the late 70s that the line would ever reopen, and hard to believe it's been reopened for 20 years now.

[signalandtelegraph]

I thought that the final infrastructure work was due to be carried out during a possession over the Easter weekend.

Whitsun weekend at the moment.

[eightf48544]

I agree. My parents' families all lived in the Cynon valley and when I was a lad (aye!) Dad used to tell me about the time when trains ran up to Aberdare. Little did I imagine in the late 70s that the line would ever reopen, and hard to believe it's been reopened for 20 years now.

When you think about it Wales has done very well for line reopenings, Aberdare, Maesteg, Barry to Bridgend,  Ebbw Vale and now half hourly to Merthyr. Plus new stations such as the Swanline ones.

What about East of the Severn? How long has the campaign for the Portishead line been going? Plus the need for increased services on all the branches and mainlines especialy round Bristol.

[Shazz]

I agree. My parents' families all lived in the Cynon valley and when I was a lad (aye!) Dad used to tell me about the time when trains ran up to Aberdare. Little did I imagine in the late 70s that the line would ever reopen, and hard to believe it's been reopened for 20 years now.

When you think about it Wales has done very well for line reopenings, Aberdare, Maesteg, Barry to Bridgend,  Ebbw Vale and now half hourly to Merthyr. Plus new stations such as the Swanline ones.

What about East of the Severn? How long has the campaign for the Portishead line been going? Plus the need for increased services on all the branches and mainlines especialy round Bristol.

Different governmental views, so different things happen.

The WAG^» (Welsh Assembly Government - about) are very pro rail, and see it as vital to the countries economy.

Whereas, the London government, dont...

Vote for someone pro rail next election

[Graz]

Well, the London government do see it as vital...to the city of London. Unlucky about everywhere else in the country though!

I'd really like to live in Wales- the rail services seem to be second to none and as pointed out there have been a lot of new line reopenings lately.

[welshman]

I bet you'd all like to live in Wales after today's events! 

The commuter lines out of Cardiff have done well recently because of WAG^» (Welsh Assembly Government - about) policy.  But there are still too many Pacers and will be for the rest of the ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) franchise.

West of Bridgend has not done so well although there is a scheme to dual the 5 mile single section aroung Gowerton which is the bottleneck between Swansea and Carmarthen.  Still FGW^▸ (First Great Western) relevant because they run the odd train to Carmarthen.

[John R]

Yes, it's good to have a bit of national pride again! Cardiff will be rocking tonight.

[Trowres]

Rewind to around 1980, when the future for the Valley Lines looked bleak, with Bargoed-Rhymney on the potential closure list. While the move of employment from the mines to the coast has an obvious part in the story, the recovery of the railway's fortunes owes much to:
1. Local management (i.e. not in London)
2. Some commercial freedom and the ability to act quickly
3. Understanding the needs of the local communities

This was described in a book, IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) "Valley Lines: The People's Railway".

Sad to say, conditions 1, 2 and 3 don't prevail in most of England these days.